The Heart of the Philippines

Manny Pacquiao has the weight of a country on his shoulders every time he steps in the ring, but that never seems to stop him. Pacquiao continues to be victorious. He just continues to win. With his victory over Hatton Pac Man is now 49-3-2 and with 47 knockouts including last nights devastating left hook. He is a champion in six weight classes. For all those people who say Pacquiao isn’t real deal they can have a seat and shut their mouths. Pacquiao can now be considered one best pound for pound boxers of all time.

He is fierce fighter but even a greater person. Pacquiao refuse to live anywhere else but the Philippines. Now the Philippines is a very shady country. The government is corrupt, there are gangs ruling the country, the economy is in shambles, and disease is pretty rampant but even with all this Pacquiao feels it’s important to live next to his people. He feels it would make no sense to live anywhere else. Now Pacquiao lives in General Santos City. He lives in a house with all of his close relatives and his thirty bodyguards. Kidnappings are very common in the Philippines so Pacquiao must be protected at all times.

Pacquiao is deeply involved with the Filipino community. One day he gave every person he saw 100 pesos for eight hours. To Americans that is not a lot money but for Filipinos that is food and water for a day. He actually ran for senator and lost. He received many letters from Filipinos saying he can do more good for the country in the ring than he can in the corrupted government.

His attitude in the in ring inspires people. He is always smiling and always happy. When he gets hit good he pounds his fist together and smiles and then gets right back into the fight. Its his optimistic attitude that motivates the people in Philippines to strive for a better future.

People respect Pacquiao so much that peace treaties are signed with he fights in the Philippines. No one does anything when Pac-Man fights. The government actually purchases the fight for the entire country so everyone can watch their champion in battle.

Now America has a lot great athletes. From the Peyton Manning to LeBron James but do those people provide hope? Do they inspire others to work hard? This is what Pacquiao does. He is a beacon of light for Filipinos. That someone can actually make it out of the Philippines and be successful in the world. For some Pacquiao is more than just a fighter, he is a hero. So forget Superman and Batman, We have Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao.